Swing-arm rack with drop-arm locking mechanism

Abstract

A swing-arm rack for storing and/or displaying hanging articles, the rack comprises a swing-arm that is pivotally attached by its upper terminus to a vertical support such that the swing-arm hangs substantially vertically in a folded configuration. The fixed terminus of a drop arm is pivotally attached to the lower end of the swing-arm. A flexible restraint is connected to the free end of the drop-arm. The opposing end of the flexible restraint passes through an aperture in the swing-arm and is secured against the outward surface of the swing-arm by a keeper. In a deployed configuration of the swing-arm rack, the drop arm is oriented substantially horizontally with its free end abutting the vertical support, thereby locking the bottom of the swing-arm away from the vertical support so that the hanging articles are more easily accessed. In a folded configuration of the swing-arm rack, the free end of the drop-arm is juxtaposed against the inward surface of the upper end of the swing-arm.

1. A swing-arm rack that is reversibly convertible between a folded configuration and a deployed configuration, the swing-arm rack comprising:
 a) an elongate swing-arm having i) an upper terminus delimiting an upper end of the swing-arm, ii) a lower terminus delimiting a lower end of the swing-arm, iii) an inward surface facing a vertical support, iv) an outward surface facing away from the vertical support, and v) an aperture through the swing-arm from the inward surface to the outward surface; 
 b) an upper hinge means for pivotally connecting the upper terminus of the swing-arm to the vertical support; 
 c) a drop-arm having i) a fixed terminus delimiting a fixed end of the drop-arm, and ii) a free terminus delimiting a free end of the drop-arm; 
 d) a lower hinge means for pivotally connecting the fixed terminus of the drop-arm to the swing-arm inward surface; 
 e) a keeper; 
 f) a flexible restraint having a first end and a second end, the first end of the flexible restraint being connected to the free end of the drop-arm, and the second end of the flexible restraint passing through the aperture from the inward surface of the swing-arm to the outward surface of the swing-arm and secured by the keeper against the outward surface of the swing-arm when the swing-arm rack is in the deployed configuration; and 
 g) at least one lateral projection for holding hanging articles, the lateral projection extending laterally from the swing-arm, 
 whereby when the swing-arm rack is in the deployed configuration, the flexible restraint holds the drop-arm with the free end of the drop-arm abutting the vertical support, thereby locking the lower end of the swing-arm away from the vertical support and transmitting to the vertical support the gravitational force acting upon the swing-arm and the hanging articles supported thereby; and 
 whereby conversion from the deployed configuration to the folded configuration is achieved by using the flexible restraint to urge the free end of the drop-arm upwards into a substantially vertical orientation such that the drop-arm is positioned between the inward surface of the swing-arm and the vertical support and the free end of the drop-arm is juxtaposed against the upper end of the swing-arm, and the swing-arm hangs in a substantially vertical orientation supported by the upper hinge. 
 
   
   
     2. The swing-arm rack of  claim 1  wherein the drop-arm is in a substantially horizontal orientation a when the swing-arm rack is in the deployed configuration. 
   
   
     3. The swing-arm rack of  claim 1  wherein the upper hinge means is a door-mountable hinge means for attaching the swing-arm rack to the upper edge of a door, the door-mountable hinge means comprising:
 a) a hinge top plate that is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the upper edge of the door, the hinge top plate having a first end and a second end; 
 b) a hinge back plate depending substantially perpendicularly from the first end of the hinge top plate; 
 c) a hinge swing plate for connecting the upper end of the swing-arm to the door-mountable hinge; 
 d) a pivot means for pivotally connecting the hinge top plate second end and the hinge swing plate; 
 e) means for securing the door-mountable hinge to the door; and 
 f) means for securing the upper end of the swing-arm to the hinge swing plate. 
 
   
   
     4. The swing-arm rack of  claim 1  wherein the lateral projections project from only one side of the swing-arm. 
   
   
     5. The swing-arm rack of  claim 1  wherein the free terminus of the drop-arm comprises an anti-friction means for reducing for reducing friction between the free terminus of the drop-arm and the vertical support. 
   
   
     6. The swing-arm rack of  claim 5  wherein the anti-friction means is a protective coating. 
   
   
     7. The swing-arm rack of  claim 5  wherein the anti-friction means is a rotating device. 
   
   
     8. The swing-arm rack of  claim 1  wherein the keeper is chosen from the group consisting of a stop, gland, cleat, and knot. 
   
   
     9. The swing-arm rack of  claim 1  wherein the keeper is weighted.